Former Weirton Mayor Wanted

Mark Harris indicted for embezzlement; wife also accused

September 14, 2013

NEW CUMBERLAND - A grand jury indicted former Weirton Mayor Mark Harris on embezzlement charges in connection with the theft of city money while he was still in office.

A Hancock County grand jury this week returned an indictment against Harris containing three counts of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy. Harris' wife, Nycole, is named in the indictment as a co-conspirator.

Harris, 44, who was mayor of Weirton from 2007-11, is accused of embezzling $16,273.22 from city coffers in July and September 2009, according to the indictment. For a time during his mayoral term, he also served as the city's dog warden.

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MARK HARRIS

Further details about the charges were not available Friday, and Hancock County Prosecutor Jim Davis could not be reached for comment. Harris, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., could not be reached for comment.

Harris served one term as mayor and chose not to run for re-election in 2011.

Also among this week's indictments are:

- Brenda Sue Boyer, 47, of Weirton on one count of arson in connection with a June 4 fire that destroyed her daughter's trailer. Arrested shortly thereafter, Boyer is being held in the Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville on a $200,000 bond.

- Brian Renfro, 33, of Newell on two counts of gross child neglect resulting in substantial risk of injury in connection with a March 2011 incident involving his 5-month-old child and 4-year-old stepchild.

- Delbert K. Reed, 48, of Chester on three counts of sexual abuse by a custodian and two counts of sexual assault.

- Nicholas R. McAvoy, 24, of New Cumberland on one count of sexual assault.

- William C. Pipes Jr., 50, of Chester on one count each of sexual abuse by a custodian and sexual assault.

- Anthony D. Hurst, 40, of New Cumberland on two counts of malicious assault and one count of escape.

- John S. Hester, 54, of Newell on two counts of entry of a building other than a dwelling, two counts of grand larceny and one count of conspiracy.

- Brian S. Goodlin, 30, of Chester on two counts of entry of a building other than a dwelling, two counts of grand larceny and one count of conspiracy.

- Michael S. Hissam, 40, of Chester on one count each of robbery, conspiracy and malicious assault.

- Charles C. Gamble, 23, of Newell on one count each of robbery and conspiracy.

- Sherry L. Smith, 29, of New Cumberland on one count of obtaining welfare assistance by means of willfully false statements.

- George S. Moore, 41, of New Cumberland on one count of domestic battery (third and subsequent offense).

- Jason B. Stroud, 26, of Chester on seven counts of forgery and uttering and one count of petit larceny.

- Charles E. Rosa, 39, of New Cumberland on one count of child abuse causing injury.

- Derek R. Bragg, 23, of Newell on one count each of grand larceny and attempted grand larceny.

- Angel Lynn Lake, 30, of Newell on two counts of fraudulent use of an access device and one count each of attempted fraudulent use and conspiracy.

- Stephen A. Wright, 37, of Chester on one count each of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to deliver heroin, conspiracy to transport heroin into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- Joshua M. Watkins, 25, of Chester on one count each of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to deliver heroin, conspiracy to transport heroin into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- Robbie W. Duncan, 22, of Newell on one count each of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to deliver heroin, conspiracy to transport heroin into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- Jason D. Rowland, 37, of East Liverpool on one count each of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to deliver heroin, conspiracy to transport heroin into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- John M. Graham III, 48, of Wellsville on one count each of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to deliver heroin, conspiracy to transport heroin into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- Shawn M. Jacob, 30, of East Liverpool on one count each of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, conspiracy to transport cocaine into the state and transporting a controlled substance into the state.

- Corey M. Weeks, 23, of Weirton on one count each of house burglary, robbery, conspiracy and attempted malicious assault.

- Kevin W. Magnone, 24, of Weirton on one count each of robbery and conspiracy.